One big reason I have stayed experimental: I can spread the cost out when I build so I don't have to borrow the dough. This last time I had got over (made more money) the initial kit expense while building so when the time came to buy the engine I could. Buying it all at once, like I would have to do in effect if buying a ready to fly airplane, would mean a loan, bank robbery, or settling for less aircraft hen desired. Kind of like building your own house out of pocket instead of a mortgage, takes a bit longer then buying pre built but you save a lot and end up with more.

I need to find one of those mechanics that can do an annual inspection in a day or less and find out what their secret is. It takes me at least a week and thats if I find nothing wrong.

I do smile a lot though when I hear the certified plane owners tell how much they paid for tires or even an innertube or a spark plug.

Up in Canada we have a similar category called the homeowners maintenance category. Its great because parts are cheaper and I can do most of the work myself. Downsides are that once the plane goes into that category it can't be put back into the certified category and cannot be used for profit. This devalues the plane a fair amount. I also cannot fly the plane across the border into the US. Not sure if that rule applies to experimentals or not. Unfortunately, those are a couple things that I'd like to do with the plane. So higher cost of parts and fuel it is for me...

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I am in about the same price and work split as Hotrod when it comes to my annuals most of the time. I do all the prep and closing work and anything that needs to be accoplished I do with oversite. I pay my AI for this service and it takes my time, however, it is my plane and I see it as being part of the fun of owning, operating and maintaning a plane.

I have also observed work from numerous A&P's that I would not let work on my plane with the level of quality they demonstrate when working on planes. Some of these folk teach at perstigious A&P schools and quite frankly I would not fly anything they work on.

I've got an RV-8 and there just isn't a certified analog to it:
cruise at 160 knots on 6.5-7 gph
Operate out of 1000 foot grass strips with impunity(rougher than you'd think but not super cub rough)
800-1000 mile range
Run auto spark plugs that cost $20 for a full set rather than $20 each
Electronic ignition for easy starting, and TBO well beyond MAG TBO
Avionics that blow away the certified competition
Annuals that cost peanuts

However... I did build mine and I've been careful about what goes into the plane especially the electrical system. I've been very lucky and only had a few URLissues.

Used homebuilts are a mixed bag... in general people don't sell well build, good running airplanes...

I've had a number of friends who have been burnt with unexpected issues buying experimentals. Some of them very experienced and knowledgeable.

I've got an RV-8 and there just isn't a certified analog to it:
cruise at 160 knots on 6.5-7 gph
Operate out of 1000 foot grass strips with impunity(rougher than you'd think but not super cub rough)
800-1000 mile range
Run auto spark plugs that cost $20 for a full set rather than $20 each
Electronic ignition for easy starting, and TBO well beyond MAG TBO
Avionics that blow away the certified competition
Annuals that cost peanuts

However... I did build mine and I've been careful about what goes into the plane especially the electrical system. I've been very lucky and only had a few issues.

Used homebuilts are a mixed bag... in general people don't sell well built, good running airplanes...

I've had a number of friends who have been burnt with unexpected issues buying experimentals. Some of them very experienced and knowledgeable.

Bill